<div> <div>The Military Court has rejected bail for the eight junta critics abducted by the military on Wednesday, citing the authority of a junta order and the severity of the crime.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Friday, 29 April 2016, the court rejected the offer, by lawyers and relatives of the eight junta critics abducted by the military on Wednesday, of 100,000 baht as bail for each critic, ruling that the eight committed serious crimes as a network. </div></div>

<p>Academics say that the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), the formal name of the Thai junta, has violated its own rule book in harassing critics of the junta-sponsored draft constitution.</p> <p>Academics of the Institute of Human Rights and Peace Studies (IHRP) of Mahidol University on Wednesday, 27 April 2016, held a briefing on the authorities’ actions in persecuting and intimidating people for criticizing the draft constitution written by the junta-appointed Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC).</p>

<div> <div>The junta’s lawmakers have unanimously decided to increase penalties under the Computer Crime Act and establish a committee to handle cases under the Act, bypassing the courts.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Friday, 29 April 2016, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BBCThai/photos/a.1527194487501586.1073741828.1526071940947174/1767285130159186/?type=3&amp;theater">BBC Thai</a> reported that the National Legislative Assembly (NLA), the junta-appointed legislature, gave the green light to amend the Computer Crime Act.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>In an urgent meeting, the NLA voted 16 </div></div>

<p>The junta have charged eight dissidents abducted by the military with sedition while two of the eight are also accused of lѐse majesté. Meanwhile, the police are gathering evidence against key red shirt figures allegedly linked to some of the eight. &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Military Court has issued arrest warrants for nine political dissidents, most of whom were abducted by the authorities for criticising the junta.</p> <p><a href="http://www.matichon.co.th/news/120269">Matichon Online</a>&nbsp;reported that the Military Court of Bangkok on Thursday, 28 April 2016, issued arrest warrants for nine persons, eight of whom were abducted by the military yesterday.</p>

<div>A fundraiser in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen has been arrested as the first victim of the Referendum Act, only eight hours after a complaint was filed against her.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Wednesday, 27 April 2016, Khaosod reported that Jiraphan Tanmani, President of the Rathawatanamani Fund -- an organization raising funds to promote autism rights -- was arrested for publishing content that was severe, aggressive and rude with the intention of persuading the public to accept or not accept the draft charter in the August referendum.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>She was </div>

<p dir="ltr">The Thai military has released one of <a href="http://prachatai.org/english/node/6087">the 10 persons abducted by the regime</a> in the latest junta’s crackdown on political dissidents.</p> <p>Nithi Kooltasnasilp at 10:16 pm on Wednesday, 27 April 2016, posted a status on his Facebook account that he has reached home after being interrogated by police officers and soldiers.</p>

<p>Thai police have detained 16 activists for standing still to show solidarity with&nbsp;<a href="http://prachatai.org/english/node/6087">10 persons abducted earlier by the military</a>. One of the 16 was later taken away by the military after the arrest.</p> <p>Police officers at about 6:30 pm on Wednesday, 27 April 2016, arrested 16 people for gathering at the Victory Monument in Bangkok and standing still to show solidarity with 10 people abducted by the military on Wednesday morning.</p>

<p>A lawyer and the administrator of a Facebook page opposing supernatural beliefs have filed a lѐse majesté complaint, accusing many internet users of defaming the monarchy on Facebook and YouTube.</p>

<div>An election commissioner has filed a complaint under the Draft Referendum Act against a fundraising organization in northeastern province of Khon Kaen.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>On Wednesday, 27 April 2016, Matichon Online <a href="http://www.matichon.co.th/news/118580">reported</a> that Somchai Srisuthiyakorn, an election commissioner of Thailand, filed a complaint under the Draft Referendum Act against a fundraising organization in Khon Kaen Province (name withheld) at Toongsonghong police station, Bangkok.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>This is the first time that the act has been practic </div>

<p>The Thai military has abducted 10 people in Bangkok and the northeastern province of Khon Kaen in the junta’s latest crackdown on political dissidents. &nbsp; &nbsp;</p> <p>According to&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/KAO_VoiceTV21/status/725215022029279232">a reporter from Voice TV</a>, Col Winthai Suwaree, spokesperson of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said that the military on Wednesday morning, 27 April 2016, detained 10 people in total.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Academics pointed out that even though the junta-sponsored draft constitution passes the public referendum, it will have no legitimacy as the junta is clamping down hard on the draft critics.</p>